1 — Don’t rely on books and crosswords

A mere crossword a day won't cut it, you need to be picking up new skills such as playing a musical instrument or learning a new language

If you’re among the 34% of us who do a crossword in the belief it will keep your brain sharp,* you may be feeling smug right now. But scientists aren’t convinced that they’re the best way to keep your grey matter buzzing.

2 — Pay attention

If you lose your keys, it could be because you’ve placed them somewhere out of the ordinary without paying attention to where

It’s not uncommon to get more forgetful as you age, but it’s not always your memory that’s at fault – it may be a case of weakening attention skills.

For example, if you lose your keys, it could be because you’ve placed them somewhere out of the ordinary without paying attention to where. “That’s not your memory’s fault, it’s because you’re distracted,” says Keiron.

Thankfully, poor attention isn’t inevitable. Posit Science’s Brain HQ apps, from around £6 a month, and the MyCognition Home app, £8.49 a month, are inexpensive ways to train your brain, with exercises like an auditory speed test.

“If I read you a list of 16 words you might remember 12-13 of them,” explains Henry.

“If I read that same list with a lot of background noise, you might remember just eight words because your attention is divided. With practice, most people can see results in a few weeks.”

3 — Keep busy

A recent British study tracked 3,433 civil servants before and after retirement, and found their memory for words declined nearly 40% faster after they stopped working, taking age-related decline into account. One of the best ways to combat this drop-off post-retirement? Learn a foreign language.

That’s because it uses the same processes as remembering a shopping list and learning to drive, reported one study from Georgetown University.

“Use an app that keeps testing your new vocabulary over the course of several weeks, so it embeds in your long-term memory,” says Mike Redfern, Northern Europe manager for Babbel.com, which offers lessons in 12 languages.

“It also helps with attention span, so start by committing to just 10 minutes a day, working up to an hour.”

4 — Eat food for thought

Mushrooms offer a raft of brain benefits and you'll love the taste of a mushroom powder smoothie

Countries with diets that contain more ergothioneine – an antioxidant found in mushrooms – have lower rates of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, according to Penn State food science professor Robert Beelman.

And some varieties of mushroom offer additional brain benefits. “About a dozen studies have been published on the regenerative properties of lion’s mane mushrooms, showing they stimulate nerve-growth factor, helping the body to maintain healthy brain cells,” explains nutritional therapist Christine Bailey.

And get the kids eating salmon and mackerel: a new study from the University Of Pennsylvania linked regular consumption of fish with improved sleep and better performance on an IQ test for nine to 11 year olds.

BTW: Did you know?

87% of us have walked into a room and forgotten why we’re there, while 66% confess to regularly calling someone the wrong name, a study from Rescue Plus found.

75% of the brain is made up of water, so being even 2% dehydrated can affect short-term memory.

5 — Don't forget folic acid

You can get folic acid from leafy greens, but it’s harder to absorb it efficiently if you’re vegan

You probably know that too little folic acid, AKA vitamin B9, can negatively affect brain development in the womb, but it’s also important for brain function throughout life, says nutritional scientist Toral Shah. Folic acid supports DNA and RNA (which makes protein) to ensure cells have the right genetic information to redevelop.

When you don’t get enough, you can suffer from folate-deficiency anaemia, which can cause problems with memory and judgement.

“You can find folic acid in chickpeas and leafy greens, but it’s harder if you’re vegan because to absorb it efficiently you also need vitamin B12 – mostly found in eggs, milk and cheese,” says Toral.

“And your body can’t store it, so you need to have it daily.”

6 — Patch it up

250mg of glutathione a day may supplement your own reserves, but to get the best results use patches

Because the brain uses lots of oxygen – 20% of what enters the bloodstream – it’s more prone to oxidative damage. Glutathione, found in most of our cells, is known as the “master antioxidant”, fighting damage and acting like the body’s rust preventer. Taking a 250mg of glutathione a day may supplement your own reserves, but to get the best results use patches.

“Oral supplements aren’t always digested by the body, and those that are only have an absorbency of 15%,” explains Bianca Estelle, clinical director of Vitamin Injections London.

7 — Exercise in short bursts

Those who take a brisk walk show more accurate responses and their reaction times are up

Ten minutes of activity such as cycling or brisk walking can boost focus and problem-solving ability, a recent study from Canada’s Western University has found. Researchers examined reaction times to an eye-movement task before and after 10 minutes on a stationary bike compared to 10 minutes of sitting and reading.

“Their responses were more accurate and their reaction times were up to 50 milliseconds shorter than their pre-exercise values. That may seem minuscule, but it represented a 14% gain in cognitive performance in some instances.”

Who fancies a sprint to the shops?

MOST READ IN FABULOUS

'SO UNPROFESSIONAL'

Teenager 'close to tears' after claiming salon mocked her on WhatsApp

Exclusive

LOONY TUNES?

Don’t Tell The Bride singer ‘manipulated’ by show who ‘made him sound worse’

HOOVER IT UP

You can buy a Dyson vacuum for your child for £21.99... and it actually WORKS